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Remember what your teeth looked like before you had your first cavity? When you opened your mouth to laugh or yawn, you would only see pearly white molar surfaces, unless of course, you had been munching Oreos.

Tossing Out Metal Fillings of the Past

If you are like many Murray and Sandy adults, you started developing cavities fairly young and started receiving the ubiquitous silver amalgam fillings that were used by Salt Lake City family dentists. As the years went by, two fillings became three. If you didn’t drink fluoridated water, three fillings may have became four. Now when you open wide – others see a mouthful of metal.

Saying Hello to the Future with General Dentistry in Murray

Fortunately, Murray people with silver amalgam fillings can regain the smile of their youth. The replacement of silver fillings with composite tooth-colored fillings is a relatively inexpensive cosmetic dental procedure available at Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS. With general dentistry in Murray, you that can transform a smile just as dramatically as an extensive cosmetic dental treatment would.

Composite fillings available at Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS in Murray are comprised of a mixture of glass or quartz and resin which creates a natural tooth-colored material. They are strong and durable when bonded to the tooth with adhesive. Furthermore, they look completely natural, so you wouldn’t be able to tell them apart from your other teeth.

Advantages of Tooth-Colored Fillings

Hopefully, you don’t have a new cavity. But if you do, you can start off with a white composite filling. In addition to the cosmetic advantages over silver, the preparation requires the removal of less healthy tooth structure. A conservative restoration at Salt Lake Dental Care leaves you with more of nature’s superior dental material — your own enamel and dentin.

If you would like to improve your smile by replacing silver-mercury fillings, schedule a Salt Lake Dental Care cosmetic dental consultation today by calling 801-506-6009. We will develop a treatment plan to address all areas of concern. Ask us about sedation dentistry, Invisalign, wisdom teeth removal, porcelain veneers, and general dentistry in Murray. We look forward to meeting you.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

Porcelain veneers in Murray have a multitude of applications for cosmetic dentistry. With veneers, you can transform your smile without significant restorative dental work.

Is your tooth enamel worn and thin? Tooth-colored porcelain veneers in Murray have the brilliance and translucency of healthy tooth enamel. Many Salt Lake City dental patients have received veneers to cover worn enamel. Some believe they look twenty years younger!

Restoring Your Smile with Porcelain Veneers

Have your teeth developed uneven edges? Tooth grinding, natural wear, and other factors can roughen tooth edges. Veneers are a minimally invasive correction for uneven tooth edges.

Do you have chips or cracks in your teeth? If your teeth are otherwise healthy, porcelain veneers in Murray provide a flawless tooth surface. Are your teeth yellow or gray? Veneers can fix that too! Veneers can be fabricated in any shade to perk up your smile while still blending naturally with your other teeth and skin tones.

Porcelain veneers in Murray are paper-thin, tooth-shaped covers that are affixed to the front of teeth. Traditional veneers required the removal of a thin layer of tooth structure.

Veneers are strong, natural looking, and one of the most affordable cosmetic dentistry procedures in Taylorsville and Draper. Of course, for some patients, a tooth with extensive damage may need a dental crown.

At Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS, we would be happy to show you what veneers can do for you. We provide premium dental care for many of your friends and neighbors in the greater Salt Lake City area. Our phone number is 801-506-6009. You can visit our website for information about our high-quality team and the types of services we provide such as cosmetic dentistry, dental implants, sedation dentistry, and Invisalign clear braces.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

At Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS, something that we are proud of is that we have been providing excellent dental care and modern dentistry in Murray for our patients since 2005. Today in our blog, we’re going to discuss an overlooked aspect of modern dental health, toothpaste.

Finding the Right Toothpaste

One of the critical habits of good oral health is daily tooth brushing with an effective toothpaste. There is a wide variety of toothpaste available. We recommend you use one with fluoride and make sure it has the ADA seal. This ensures that the toothpaste has been tested, claims are being met, and the ingredients are correct. Just because a toothpaste claims to have a ‘whitener’ in it, doesn’t mean it has fluoride.

A Brief History of Toothpaste

Toothpaste as we know it has only been in existence since the late 1800’s. Fluoride was added in 1914. The earliest evidence of toothpaste or dental cream dates back to 3000-5000 BC. The Ancient Egyptians pulverized oxen hooves, egg shells, pumice, myrrh, and water creating one of the earliest forms of toothpaste.

The Greeks and Romans began adding crushed bones and bark to the mix. The taste most likely was not very pleasant. During this same time the people of China and India were using a similar paste, but adding flavorings, like Ginseng and herbal mints making it a bit more palatable.

Schedule a Cleaning with Modern Dentistry in Murray

Salt Lake City toothpaste users have no excuse for not brushing their teeth daily with the toothpaste we have available today. The experienced staff at Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS wants to help all Utah smiles be whiter and healthier. Contact us today at 801-506-6009 so we can answer any questions you may have about tooth whitening, invisible braces, cosmetic dentistry, and modern dentistry in Murray.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

When you are committed to reaching a goal, the difference between success and failure often comes down to whether or not you follow a plan. Occasional effort is almost never effective.

Do you have a goal to improve your smile? Perhaps you have not thought much about your teeth in the past but lately, have noticed problems. These troubles can be purely aesthetic such as tooth staining or a pressing risk such as gum disease. If you want to improve your smile, you’ll need to consult an Aesthetic Dentist in Murray.

Do you have an objective for your smile?

There are several cosmetic and general dentistry services that could benefit your smile, but in order to improve your smile, you’ll first need to decide exactly what you want to improve. Here are a few common improvements that patients will ask about during a consultation with our aesthetic dentist in Murray.

• Reverse gum disease
• Whiten your teeth and prohibit future staining
• Replace missing teeth
• Straighten crowded teeth
• Repair chipped teeth
• Prevent tooth loss
• Complete smile redesign

Here at Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS, we are committed to customized patient-focused care. This means that we devise a personalized treatment plan for every single patient; after all, each patient is unique. Age, lifestyle, current condition of oral health, overall physical health, and risk factors are all taken into account.

Ready to get started? Schedule a consultation by calling 801-506-6009. Clint Blackwood, DDS will discuss your current goals with you, as well as carry out a comprehensive examination and explain your options. You will leave with all of your questions answered and a personalized dental treatment plan. Furthermore, our aesthetic dentist in Murray will give you information about several of our services including sedation dentistry, teeth whitening, wisdom teeth removal, porcelain veneers, and Invisalign.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

It is harder to keep your teeth clean if you wear braces, there is no doubt about it. It’s always unfortunate when those with braces develop tooth decay which can weaken their teeth. This is why oral hygiene in Salt Lake City is so important, especially for our younger patients.

Why Oral Hygiene in Salt Lake City Is Important

The brackets and wires on traditional metal braces create hard to reach places where harmful bacteria can thrive. If patients don’t pay careful attention to oral hygiene, their teeth can be permanently damaged. The cycle of decay goes like this:

1. Food particles are trapped in the tiny spaces in and around the wires
2. The bacteria in the food particles multiply
3. The bacteria creates plaque
4. The plaque erodes the enamel
5. Cavities form

Teeth are not the only thing at risk here, orthodontic patients can also develop gum disease which can progress quickly into periodontitis and eventual tooth loss.

What To Watch Out For

Bottom line, orthodontic patients need to be vigilant about a healthy diet and effective oral hygiene in Salt Lake City. Most of our patients with braces know that they should avoid sticky, sugary foods that stick to their braces, but some don’t realize that any carbohydrate-based food turns into sugar. Thus, a cracker can be just as bad for your teeth as a Tootsie Roll, if the food particles are not removed.

Those with braces should also watch their intake of highly-acidic foods and beverages. Though some acidic foods are very healthy – think tomatoes, oranges, raspberries – it is wise to substitute less acidic foods that contain similar nutrients. There are few beverages as harmful as soda and sports drinks, both of which have the detrimental duo of acid and sugar.

Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS provides quality general and cosmetic dentistry including sedation dentistry, wisdom teeth removal, and Invisalign. Our understanding team is enthusiastic about oral health and beautiful smiles.

If you are new to the Salt Lake City area, we invite you to call us at 801-506-6009 to schedule an exam and cleaning. Our team looks forward to meeting you.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

Tooth whitening in Salt Lake City has become one of the most popular dental procedures. It seems that everyone is whitening their teeth to help their smiles look younger and brighter. Many men and women are turning to over-the-counter solutions to enhance their teeth, however, there can be downsides to this approach.

Here is some basic advice on tooth whitening in Salt Lake City from Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS.

First of all, we encourage you to visit our office before starting a tooth whitening system. Dr. Blackwood at Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS can help you determine whether your teeth can be whitened safely and effectively with the restorations and hardware currently in your mouth. We can also recommend tooth whitening solutions that will work best for you. There can be many pitfalls to tooth whitening if you aren’t careful, so it’s better to be aware of them.

Over-the-counter tooth whitening in Salt Lake City will provide varying degrees of whitening. If used incorrectly, they can lead to issues including tooth sensitivity, over whitening, damage to your tooth enamel, and uneven coloration. Whitening too much can even have a reverse effect, making your teeth look gray.

Avoid Problems By Seeing Your Dentist First

Most tooth whitening product manufacturers recommend that you visit your dentist if things go wrong with your tooth whitening system. We recommend you begin with the high-quality professionals at Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS to prevent tooth whitening problems from ever happening. Our high-quality staff is available to discuss tooth whitening systems and check your teeth to make sure you will get the best possible tooth whitening results. Call our office today to learn about tooth whitening in Salt Lake City or any of our other cosmetic procedures, such as six-month smiles or Invisalign braces.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

If you are a regular visitor to our blog here at Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS, you have probably read many articles on cosmetic dentistry in Salt Lake City. Well, here’s our two cents on the subject of cosmetic dentistry in Salt Lake City.

Bonding and Restorations

With dental bonding, crowns, and porcelain veneers, we can take care of teeth that are chipped, broken, or misshapen. Our Salt Lake City patients with stained or dull teeth can have a sparkly white smile with teeth whitening. For ordinary cavities, there are tooth-colored fillings, inlays, and onlays.

Dental Implants

Dental implants are gaining popularity in Salt Lake City among dental patients who want to restore missing teeth. If your teeth are misaligned, there are a number of orthodontic options here at Salt Lake Dental Care with Clint Blackwood DDS in Murray.

Resolving Issues With Gums

What if your cosmetic dental problem has to do with your gums? Are you one of the many Salt Lake City residents whose gums are too long, short, or uneven? There is a solution for gum problems as well. The answer is gum contouring surgery. With gum contouring, sometimes called tissue sculpting or gum reshaping, a Murray dentist or periodontist can improve the shape or size of your gums.

Gum reshaping is not always a cosmetic procedure. If the gums have receded to a point where the tooth root is susceptible to decay, gum surgery can restore the natural, healthy gum line and protect tooth root and bone. For more information about gum contouring or cosmetic dentistry in Salt Lake City, call us at 801-506-6009 or visit our website for more information. Clint Blackwood is a master of smile makeovers and he can give you the smile you’ve always dreamed of. 

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

Many men and women mistakenly believe that bad breath is the result of brushing your teeth incorrectly. The truth is that there are many causes of bad breath. Your dentist in Salt Lake City can help you pinpoint the cause of your trouble and discuss how to cure bad breath.

Taking a Look at Your Diet

Taking a look at your diet with your dentist in Salt Lake City is always a good idea. Your diet considerably impacts how your breath smells, because foods begin to be digested the second they enter your mouth. Furthermore, food is absorbed and distributed throughout the body, so if you’ve eaten strong-smelling foods like onions and garlic, you’ll probably be able to smell them long after you’ve eaten them. Therefore, using a mouthwash will only mask the smell. Constantly sucking on breath mints is also not the best choice. Mints may bring additional oral issues—especially if the mints have sugar. If you want real relief, you may need to avoid the strong smelling foods altogether.

In addition, many patients find that their diet regimen is making it harder for them to keep their mouth fresh and clean. Low-carb and no-carb diets promote fat burning, but the side effect of this is that the chemicals released during this process may cause bad breath. Although, increasing water intake may help alleviate this effect.

Changing Up Your Hygiene

Lastly, flossing regularly is often the key to truly fresh breath. Many people don’t realize how much food can be stuck between their teeth, and this food can cause bad breath if it isn’t removed. More importantly, the food particles can turn into plaque which can cause tooth decay and gum disease.

At Salt Lake Dental Care, our practice provides general, sedation, and cosmetic dentistry to residents in the Salt Lake City area. Our dentist in Salt Lake City is committed to prime oral health for all of our patients, and that includes making sure they don’t have bad breath. We also want our patients to love their smile, so if you have any questions about smile transformations or other cosmetic dental services, give us a call today.

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107

At Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS we urge patients to come in at least twice a year for a dental examination and cleaning.  Sometimes patients skip these dental checkups because they believe that they don’t have any cavities, however, your dentist in Murray isn’t just checking for cavities. Our staff is also checking for signs of oral cancer during your dental visit.

Dental Checkups Are Not Just About Cavities

In the last few decades, lung and breast cancer have drawn a lot of public attention. There is relatively less awareness of oral cancer even though it claims almost 10,000 lives every year in the United States.

At Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS, we work to raise awareness about oral cancer and the importance of early diagnosis. Courtesy of the CDC, Oral Cancer Foundation, and Johns Hopkins Medicine, here are 4 vital things you should know about oral and oropharyngeal cancers.

1. About 80% of individuals with oral cancer use some type of tobacco (cigarettes, chewing tobacco, pipes).

2. 40% of men and women who receive a late-stage diagnosis of oral cancer die within five years. The survival rate for early stage diagnosis is 90%.

3. In many cases, it is practically impossible for the individual to detect oral and oropharyngeal cancers because they can produce inconspicuous symptoms or no symptoms at all. Any abnormality in the mouth or throat, even if small and painless, should be analyzed by a dentist or doctor.

4. If you have tested positive for HPV, you have a higher risk of developing oral cancer. HPV, the most common sexually transmitted disease in the US, is the most common cause of oropharyngeal cancer. Of the numerous strains of HPV, HPV16 is the one most often linked to oropharyngeal cancer.

Along with Cancer Screenings, your dentist in Murray provides Cosmetic and Sedation Dentistry Services. For more information about our six month smiles, call our office today!

Contact Salt Lake Dental Care – Clint Blackwood DDS:

801-506-6009

Location (Tap to open in Google Maps):

279 E 5900 S Ste 202
Murray, Utah
84107